News

By Carl E. Olson, Catholic World Report - On August 22nd, we celebrate the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Established by Pope Pius XII in 1954, this feast illustrates the fact that not only is Mary queen of heaven and earth but that, in this role, she is also our spiritual mother... Mary’s queenship has biblical roots, with one of the most outstanding being during the Annunciation, when “Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever” (cf. Lk 1:26-38).

By Rev. James V. Schall, S.J., The Catholic Thing - The “good news” of Christianity warns us of the “bad news” that recurs in one form or other. The Fall or Original Sin was not something that could be confronted with solely human means. Much classical and modern social thought, nonetheless, sought to prove otherwise. Its efforts have usually made things worse... On November 15, 1977, Josef Ratzinger (later Benedict XVI) wrote: “There is no such thing as a purely objective news report.” Everything we read in the press, watch on television, or hear on radio is filtered through some mind that selects what is to be emphasized and how to present it.

By Joseph Pronechen, National Catholic Register - The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated Aug. 22 perfectly completes the octave of the Assumption. But it was not until 70 years ago that Pope Pius XII officially added this feast to the liturgical calendar, even though Mary’s queenship was hailed from the early years of the Church... For many years we have prayed “Hail, Holy Queen” after the five decades of the Rosary. We sing the hymn “Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above” in church. We petition Mary as “Queen” 13 times in the Litany of Loreto...